Church settled down though. With runners on first and second in the fifth inning, he struck out two straight batters to get out of the inning without an earned run.

“This is the best Todd has done all year,” said N-C coach Corey Nunley. “It is probably our best pitching performance by anyone all year. Bunker Hill can hit, but he kept them off balance. He did what he needed to do. He kept the ball in and out, and up and down.”

The Red Devils (1-16, 1-10) mounted offense of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. Singles by Michael Wood and Church put runners on first and second, but Shepard showed he was clutch on the mound also. He struck out Jayme Arnold to leave Newton-Conover without a run.

“Jacob’s pitching was the key for us,” Curtis said. “Our pitching has been outstanding all year, and he was outstanding here tonight.”
Shepard said a few things were working well for him on the mound, which helped him have a great game.”

“I just stayed in rhythm,” Shepard said. “I didn’t take any breaks. I worked at my pace, played my game and didn’t play into their game.”

Sensing urgency from the home team, Bunker Hill tried to add some offense and pad their lead in the seventh inning. A bunt by Brotherton scored Jeremy Null from third base to make it a 4-0 game.

The errors that plagued the Red Devils in the first inning returned in the seventh. With runners on second and third, the Bears’ Kyle Davis drove a ball to N-C shortstop Spencer Travis, who was unable to come up with the ball. That allowed Cody Plemmons and Brotherton to score.

“Our guys got some bunts down, and we ran the bases fairly well, except for the one pickoff,” Curtis said. “We also got a few timely hits. I thought the bunts played a big part in our win.”

McGraw came in to pitch in the seventh inning and closed out strong, striking out the Red Devil’s side to earn the save.

Despite a rough season so far, Nunley remains optimistic about his team, especially with Friday’s performances.

“That is one of the better games we have put together, even though we struck out so many times,” Nunley said. “Shepard is one of the best pitchers we have seen all year. We have some fight in us. If we just keep going, maybe we can find a win here or there. Bunker Hill is 17-0, and you can’t take away from them.”